EVENTS TODAY
- 8 AM ET – House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on the livestock industry
- 7 PM ET – President Donald Trump will deliver his State of the Union address
- Commodity Classic - March 2-4 (Denver, CO)
- Mardi Gras - March 4
- Town Meeting Day (Vt.)
EVENTS THIS WEEK
- Women’s History Month
- AFBF’s Agricultural Safety Awareness Week
- Ash Wednesday/First Day of Lent - March 5
- Southern Exposure - March 6-8 (Orlando, FL)
- International Women’s Day - March 8
- Daylight Savings Time begins - 2 A.M., March 9
TODAY’S RURAL RUNDOWN FROM RFD-TV NEWS:
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TARIFFS TAKE EFFECT
The Trump Administration’s planned tariffs on U.S. exports took effect today, Tuesday, March 4. 25% tariffs were levied on Mexico and Canada, with one exception for Canadian energy exports, which had a 10% tariff in place.
Mexico and Canada have retaliated with their own duties on U.S. goods. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to address retaliatory tariffs, stressing the importance of resolving trade disagreements to help farmers focus on their work.
President Donald Trump also raised the current tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%, increasing the 10% tariff imposed on the Asian trade giant last month.
The White House argues that the tariffs are necessary to ensure fair trade. However, apponents of the trade strategy, like Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) raised concerns over farmers potentially getting caught in the middle. Industry trade groups like the Farm Bureau Federation also pressed officials to extend the tariff timeline to protect farmers from potential fallout.
LAWSUITS CHALLENGE DOGE INTERFERENCE WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES
A new legal challenge is underway against the U.S. DOGE Service. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit to halt DOGE teams from interfacing with federal agencies like the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Park Service. The lawsuit claims the teams have not fully complied with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and seeks to prevent further actions until compliance is met.
E-15 LEGISLATION PUSH FOR YEAR-ROUND SALES
Legislation has been filed to allow E-15 gasoline sales year-round, replacing the current patchwork of seasonal waivers. The National Corn Growers Association is optimistic about this push, stating that year-round E-15 could add 2.3 billion gallons to the U.S. biofuel supply. Industry experts also note that more than 98% of the U.S. gasoline supply contains 10% ethanol. This proposed change would only require a slight increase to reach the 15% ethanol concentration needed for year-round E-15 usage.
Fuel groups are also urging lawmakers to reinstate tax credits for biofuels, including the second-generation biofuel producer tax credit, which expired at the end of last year. Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association says Congress should prioritize these incentives to support the ethanol industry, contributing $50 billion to the U.S. GDP last year. Cooper remains optimistic that biofuels will continue to play a key role in the country’s economic growth.
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FARMERS PREPARE FOR ACTIVE #PLANT25 SEASON
As winter fades, farmers in the Midwest are gearing up for planting season. BAM Weather consultant Bret Walts says that many Midwest farmers (in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio) may struggle to find consistent dry periods to get into the fields. The Climate Prediction Center backs that up, showing above-average precipitation changes for the eastern Corn Belt on both the one- and three-month outlooks.
In contrast, Walts believes states like Nebraska, South Dakota, and Oklahoma are bracing for worsening drought conditions. While rain is expected in Oklahoma, it could increase the risk of wildfires. Farmers will need to balance rain forecasts with the ongoing threat of drought.
IT’S AFBF AGRICULTURAL SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
The American Farm Bureau Federation is hosting its Agricultural Safety Awareness Week, and one of this week’s focuses is grain bin safety.
The Grain Weevil is one of the most viral ag technologies in recent years. This auger-driven robot is being developed to help reduce human interaction during grain bin maintenance.
Grain entrapment accidents remain a significant risk, with less than 50 percent of people rescued after becoming trapped. Regular cleaning of grain bins is also essential for safety, as experts at Purdue University warn that dust cleaning can prevent explosions, a key concern given a spike in grain bin incidents in 2022.
FARMHER: 10 WAYS TO THINK GRAIN BIN SAFETY
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: 3 Farm Daughters
March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible women shaping the future of agriculture! Throughout the month, we’ll showcase inspiring stories, interviews, and photos of women making a difference in the agricultural sector.
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Let’s meet three sisters who turned their passion for farming into a thriving pasta business!
Mollie Ficocello, the co-founder of 3 Farm Daughters, spoke with RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander about the background of her operation, their agricultural journey, and most importantly—PASTA! Mollie says she followed her sister into their shared agriculture journey, which led them back to the family operation to create a successful business delivering nutrition from the fields to your pantry.
